Logan rolls his lips in, choosing to stay quiet at my outburst.
“I was protecting you from what your father went through!” Mom hisses before rubbing a hand across her mouth. Her anger dissipates quickly as her eyes turn glossy. “Addie, I'm sorry I kept this from you, but I didn't want you to end up like…”
Him.
Dead.
“He was murdered…” My voice trails, sounding as hollow as I feel. My Mom’s silence tells me all I need to know.
“There’s something else, Morgan.” My uncle urges, hiseyes flickering between us.
Mom’s hand falls away from her face as she glares at him. “Not right now, Ford!”
My uncle’s jaw ticks. “She deserves to know.”
“Know what?” I ask.
My mother and uncle stare at each other before Mom shakes her head in disappointment. She runs her hands along the bridge of her nose before turning to face the window as if she can't stomach seeing the confession in real time.
“Addison,” my uncle takes a breath, his eyes that look so much like my Dad’s boring into me. “I’m your biological father.”
At first, I don't react. I don't even blink. Fuck, I don't even think I take a breath.
“Excuse me?” I mumble numbly.
Sadness bleeds into his features. “I’m your dad. My brother chose to raise you when I refused to give up my position as the Northwestern syndicate leader.”
I turn to look at my cousin, who is staring at his father like he’s been betrayed. “Did you know about this?” I accuse.
Logan shakes his head. “Not afuckingclue! Are you kidding me?! This whole time, we’ve been half-siblings and neither of you had the guts to tell us!”
Mom bristles, and I see the shame on her side profile clear as day.
“Face me,” I command, a torrent of emotions overwhelming what little fucking sanity I had left. “Look at me, Mom!”
Her tear-filled eyes crash with mine, and I see the years of lies and secrets flowing like a god damned river from her. Betrayal and gut-wrenching heartbreak lance my chest as I stare at the woman whom I trusted more than anyone.
I don't even know her anymore.
How could she keep something like this from me?
I can't even begin to describe the horrid realization that my Dad was never my biological parent. My chest feels like itcould cave in, and I could drop to my knees right here. My legs could give out any moment from the tremors wracking my body, but I don't back down as I pierce my mother with despondency.
“Do you haveanythingto say for yourself?” My cruel whisper is loud in the space between us, echoing off the walls as if I haunt this home rather than the secrets buried here.
Mom’s face falls into regret, her lips wobbling. “I just wanted to protect you, Addie.”
“You didn't protect me from anything!” My voice crescendos, sounding grating and ragged. “Youliedto me! My whole life!”
She shakes her head, more tears tracking down her cheeks. “I didn't want to lose you–”
“And what about Logan!” I throw a hand out to him. “You caredsomuch about me, but what about him!”
She whimpers, sliding her teeth across her bottom lip. “I tried…”
“Tried to what! Tried tosavehim? Because it sure doesn't look like it worked!”
“That’s enough!” Uncle Ford bellows. “Logan became a part of this because I forced him into it. It’s the rules of the syndicate, Addison.”
